ERA signs Ranger deal with traditional owners

After 14 years of negotiation, a landmark deal has been struck between
Energy Resources of Australia
and the Mirarr traditional owners of the Ranger uranium mine in the Northern Territory, potentially paving the way for an accord to allow an extension of the project.

The deal, which was also signed by the federal government and the Northern Land Council, ends 13 years of litigation over the benefits for the Mirarr people from the project, where mining ended in November as the open pit was depleted. As well as boosting the financial benefits to the traditional owners, the accord provides for a regional trust to be set up to deliver social initiatives and a relationship committee to share information.

Consensus has also been reached on an approach to lift employment and develop business opportunities.

Mirarr elder Yvonne Margarula, who has long fought against uranium mining on the land, welcomed the deal. “It is good that after all these years, we have a better agreement for Mirarr," she said.

The agreement covers only the existing operations at Ranger, not ERA’s proposed Ranger 3 Deeps project, which would involve construction of an underground mine. But it is seen as forming the basis for negotiations on another deal. Approval from the Mirarr would also be needed for
Rio Tinto
-controlled ERA to extend the Ranger mining lease past 2021.

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Justin O’Brien, executive officer of the Gundjeihmi Aboriginal Corporation representing the Mirarr, said the accord underlined the improving relationship between the traditional owners, the mining company and the government.

ERA chief executive
Rob Atkinson
said the deal was “hugely significant". While it was too early to talk of a potential deal on an underground mine, the agreement “allows future discussions to be held in a better frame of mind", he said.

Mr Atkinson said the deal did not affect the undeveloped Jabiluka uranium deposit, which ERA has committed not to develop without clearance from traditional owners.